First Email to the Family

June 21, 2012

 Dear Family,

It’s so good to hear from you all. I got all of your letters and I loved reading them. Thanks for writing. I hope all is well. Everything here is going great. The food is good, it really touches my heart how much work goes into my personal meals. My whole district watches out for my diet. esta bien. :) ha

The language is coming, I feel like I don't know much but when we teach our investigator it’s there so it’s good. In one lesson I couldn't remember the word to come closer, we were talking about prayer, so I pointed to one of my hands and said "Dios" and pointed to the other and said "usted" then I moved them together haha, it worked though and he understood. haha It was funny to my companions and to Hector, he actually cracked a smile- haha. I really enjoy teaching Hector, even though he's just an actor, I can feel the spirit. Yesterday was actually the last day we taught him. We will be getting 2 new ones I think soon.

 I’ll be honest I didn’t like my first 2 days here haha, they went soo slow I wondered to myself what have I gotten myself into? But now I love it and its already flying, esta bien. My health is good and I’m eating really healthy. I’ve had one apple for every meal and I’m really loving veggies, weird right??

Sorry it’s all jumbled, just writing what comes to my mind haha and plus this keyboard is weird shaped. But yes, Elder Umana came to my classroom Saturday to say hi and bye, he just left Tuesday to his mission field. I took pics. I’ve run into a couple friends: Elder Cecil Jones, Elder Derek Holmstead, Elder Trey Dougher, Elder Josue Ciscneros, and Elder Dallin Ashby, I think more but that’s all I can remember now. I took pics with all but Elder Jones, totally spaced it when I talked with him.

I pray for you all everyday I love you all, hope everyone is good. The devotionals here have been great (only 2) but they have been soo good. One was by Sister Sheri Dew, and the one this last Tuesday by Elder Lynn G. Robbins and his wife from the 70. One thing that I liked was if you want to hit the ground running, when you hit the field is to be diligent and obedient. There's a quote here that goes like this, "obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles." In my district we made it a goal to be exactly obedient because we all need miracles with the language.

 I hope this all makes sense. I’ll try to get a hand written letter off to you guys today, can someone tell Justin to text some of my friends to write me? haha. This week has gone by fast its weird, its true though, days feel like weeks and weeks feel like days. I sleep really good, I feel good. El trio (that’s what we call ourselves) are all really active, so before bed we do our workouts real quick, and read out of El Libro de Mormon en espanol. We all get along real good, I’m grateful for them. Well I have a couple mins left. I love you all and miss you all. In my letter I’ll write later I’ll write some stuff I need.

Everyone is nice here, but I want to get teaching the real families in DC haha :), but 8 more weeks til then. Still lots of learning to be the best. Dad’s quote is always in my mind "What do you think the best are doing right now?"

Well gotta go, love you all so much. It’s great to hear from you.

Elder Andrew Lifferth

"crisis + time = humor" Pres. Sanchez haha

Andrew sent his 3rd letter and we got it on Saturday, June 23rd. That was the same day that some of the residents of Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain had been evacuated because of the wild fire. We (Andrew's family) were not evacuated.  We look forward to receiving his emails and letters. We get his emails on Thursday's (his P-Day) and letters on Fridays.

One of Elder Lifferth's companions is Elder Simpson who played football. Elder Lifferth says he reminds him of his brother Stephen. That may have helped Elder Lifferth and Elder Simpson become fast friends because there was familiarity. 

Andrew has identified some things that he didn't take with him to the MTC that he has requested that we send him: Post it Notes, Protein Bars to augment his lack of dietary options, gluten free cereal, and more photos of family and friends (Elder Justin Moody). So far he hasn't gained a single pound in the MTC.

Andrew is sprinkling Spanish in the email and letters the he sends, which indicates that the Gift Tongues is coming along.

The first 2 days in the MTC went very slow for Andrew, but since then the days have gone by very quickly.

Elder Lifferth frequently remembers a quote from his dad: "What do you think the best are doing right now". An example was during the winter he would say, "Someone is going to win the state championship next year, what do you think they are doing now?"  In Andrew's case, right now the best are learning how to teach the Gospel in Spanish.

First letter from Andrew

One of the first things that they have new missionaries at the MTC do is write a letter to their parents to tell them everything is OK.  Mary was so exited to get Andrew's letter on Saturday June 16th, that Andrew had written on June 13th the first day in the MTC.

We have begun putting his letters in a notebook so that we can keep track of his mission. We will give the notebook to him when he returns as an additional journal for him.

Elder Andrew mentioned that he has 2 companions now. Elder Simpson from Cedar Hills and Elder Rocha from Kaysville. Elder Simpsn had played footbal for Lone Peak. Elder Rocha had been in the MTC a year ago and had been called to Brazil. However, he got really sick and it turned out that he had Cancer. He is now back and cancer free, but is being re-assigned to California.

Andrew's P-Days are on Thursday so we will have to wait for his next letter.

Elder Lifferth goes to the MTC

One final hug for his mother, Mary

Photo with parents in front of Provo Temple

Drive thru at the MTC

Elder Lifferth greeted by Elder Ashby, a former Sparta teammate. Elder Ashby would help Andrew get checked in and show him the facilities at the MTC. Marlo Anderson, mother of Alex Anderson a Rangers teammate, was volunteering at the MTC and took Andrew's photo for his ID. She called Andrew's mother to report that Andrew was doing well.

Andrew Lifferth set apart as a Missionary

Andrew was set apart as a missionary on June 12, 2012 by Stake President Michael Kidd, Bishop Jason Raff, former Priest Quorem Advisor Chris Jones, and his father David Lifferth.

Andrew then wore his father's "Elder Lifferth" de "La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias" name tag until he got his own at the MTC the next day.

Puss in Boots watch from Shrek 2

This is the Puss in Boots watch from Shrek 2 that Andrew talked about in his talk on Sunday